He said: “I don’t know what Di Maria has decided. Until August 31 he will be here in principle. If from there he stays, or is no longer with us, we will think about it later. After August 31, everything will be cleared up.”

What of Angel di Maria, then? Is he heading to a club that cannot offer him top level European football?

When linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain, he didn’t seem all that keen to leave Real. He’s not exactly chomping at the bit to fly to Old Trafford. Does the Argentinean really want to live and work in Manchester?

And £50m for Di Maria is a lot. Do United now, like Manchester City, have to pay over the odds to get foreign players with no Premier League experience to move to Manchester?

Di Maria has said nothing in public. Not that this has stopped the Express putting words into his mouth: